Ishinomaki

Introducing Ishinomaki

Manga-maniacs should be sure to put Ishinomaki on their Go To list. Ishinomaki is littered with tributes to cartoonist Shōtarō Ishinomori, a local hero who created some of Japan’s best-loved manga characters, but aside from that and its use as a launching pad for Kinkasan, there isn’t much else for the traveller. An unpretentious port city ringed by scenic mountains, it sits at the mouth of the Kitakami, Northern Honshū’s largest river. This location has ensured its status as a major northeastern channel of commerce since the Edo era. The tourist information office (93-6448; 9am-5.30pm) is just outside the station, and has combo bus-and-ferry timetables for the Kinkasan bound, as well as info about Ishinomaki (some in English) and a manga-themed map. With Sendai only an hour away there’s no compelling reason to stay here.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009